This is shameful – nearly 10 million Brits urged to make false holiday sickness claims

What a shameful statistic – nearly 10 million Brits have been approached about making a false holiday sickness claim.

Travel association ABTA – which is cracking down on cheats with a warning they could be jailed – says scammers have targeted one in five people to try to get them to make a false claim against a travel company.

According to the official YouGov survey figures, 14 per cent were contacted over the phone, seven per cent by text, three per cent by social media and two per cent in person, including at airports or while on holiday.

The new figures are released as part of ABTA’s ‘Stop Sickness Scams’ campaign, which highlights that false claims cost the travel industry tens of millions of pounds.

ABTA is calling for the urgent closure of a loophole in the law, which enables claims management companies and legal firms to make more money in fees from sickness claims abroad, than they can from personal injuries in the UK.

Evidence from the travel industry and customers highlights that some claims management companies are contacting people out of the blue, encouraging them to make a false claim and often misleadingly saying there is a pot of money to be claimed – but aren’t telling them the risks involved.

Making a false compensation claim for holiday sickness is fraud and if prosecuted could result in a large fine, criminal record or jail term of up to three years. However, many people are unaware of the seriousness of the penalty.

The new research finds seven in 10 (70%) people don’t know that making a false claim for holiday sickness could result in a prison sentence in the UK or abroad. Just two in five (38%) think people could receive a fine in the UK or abroad.

In October 2017, a couple from Merseyside were jailed for making a fraudulent sickness claim. Deborah Briton was sentenced to nine months and her partner Paul Roberts for 15.

Since 2013, there has been a 500% rise in the number of compensation claims received by travel companies for holiday sickness – yet the number of sickness reports to hotels in resorts has remained the same. The problem is only associated with UK holidaymakers – travel firms in other countries have not experienced an increase.

The findings are published six months after the Government announced its plans to clampdown on the rise in false sickness claims. ABTA wants the Government to make sure the new measures are in place in time for the main 2018 holiday period.

There are only two opportunities a year to make the planned changes – April and October – if the measures aren’t in place by April it will be too late for the summer season.

ABTA also wants the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill – which will come to the House of Commons early in 2018 – to include a ban on cold calling for personal injury claims by claims management companies.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s Chief Executive said: “Unscrupulous claims management companies are encouraging people to make a false sickness claim which could land them with a large fine or even a prison sentence.

“False claims don’t just make UK holidaymakers vulnerable to serious penalties – they’re also costing travel companies and hotel owners tens millions of pounds and tarnishing the reputation of the British abroad.

“Closing the loophole in the law in time for the 2018 holiday season will make a big difference in tackling fraudulent sickness claims.”

As part of the campaign ABTA is reminding people that if they believe they have experienced food poisoning as a result of eating in their hotel, to contact their hotel or tour operator immediately in resort.

It also advises that anyone who is cold-called and encouraged to make a fake or exaggerated claim should report the company to the Claims Management Regulator.

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